There's a difference...

Saturday, January 26, 2013

I can feel a difference in my journey.

I think differently. When I eat, what I eat, how I picture the future - it's different this time. It doesn't feel like a race. This time it feels real - it feels natural somehow. This change - it feels permanent.

I am almost afraid to say it out loud. I've been down this road so many times, but somehow, it's different. I don't obsess about food anymore. I think about it in a "planning for success" kind of way, but I don't constantly feel deprived or day dream about "some day" when I reach my goal. It is different.

I contribute it to education - really learning about nutrition and finally learning about how certain foods affect MY body. Each journey is different and I am finally comfortable with my journey - which means I have "bought in" to what I am doing. And that makes this time around so different.

I wish I could bottle this feeling. It feels good - confident, content. I'm not naive when it comes to this - I realize I am going to face obstacles - plateaus, temptations - but I think I am ready to face them without giving up this time.

Here are some examples of the differences:

-I do not grab food out of convenience. I think about what the best available options are at the moment. If there is nothing of nutritional value available then I wait to snack.

-sweets are dessert and dessert is not a snack.

-I do not go out for the afternoon hungry. I pause and make a smoothie for the road. I cannot let myself get too hungry.

-I prepare food in advance so there is no chance of just "grabbing" something on the way out the door. Good choices are on hand for breakfast and lunch - every day.

-I make my water bottle (64 ounces) first thing in the morning and carry it with me everywhere I go.

-I can have one bite or one taste something and be satisfied. I don't need to order dessert or eat out of a bag - I can have one bite and be done.

-I am not allowing myself to become bored with my eating. I embrace new recipes to keep things fresh and tasty.

-I exercise almost every day. Whether it be for 10 minutes or 40 minutes. I move on purpose.

-I eat out of the refrigerator or one cabinet only. The cabinet I choose snacks from only contains nuts and dark chocolate. Otherwise I eat from the refrigerator. I can't ask my skinny hubby to not have his chips and lunch cakes, but I can avoid looking at them when I am choosing a snack by having my own cabinet.

-I journal my food every day - good or bad I face the music. This has helped me make better choices in the evening or when planning supper because I know exactly where I stand. I highly recommend the sparkpeople apps - makes journaling 100% easier and faster.

So as you can see, there's a difference - actually many little differences - and I fully believe I can keep this going and it will become my new normal.